kscans

Chapter 11 - The Kobito-san's Knight

"Yah-haay!"

At the forest entrance, Dolphen set Chihiro down and tied his horse to a nearby tree. Then, a sharp buzzing sound came from deep within the forest, and the Forest Master's children appeared. Dolphen froze instinctively, but paying him no mind, Chihiro waved and greeted the giant honeybees that had arrived.

Yah-haay? What could that be? A greeting for the Forest Master, perhaps?

Before Dolphen, who was puzzling over words derived from the nuances and images of a modern Japanese person, the Kobito-san, swarmed by bees from both sides, tottered and nearly fell.

"Careful!"

Hurriedly supporting her and brushing away the swarming bees, Dolphen lifted Chihiro into his arms.

"You lot! That was dangerous! Lady Chihiro is delicate! Know your place!"

For a moment, an explosive atmosphere thick with anger hung in the air, but Chihiro's carefree voice dissipated the unsettling mood.

"Merda, I want honey!"

Instantly, a great buzzing of many wings echoed, and an exceptionally large shadow soared through the sky. The shadow circled once overhead, then, wrapped in a gentle breeze, it landed before Chihiro.

"Welcome, my King."

"I came to get some honey. Do you need magic?"

"By all means!"

"...How do I let my magic out?"

Chihiro stared at her own two hands and blinked her eyes rapidly. Her eyes narrowing at the adorable gesture, Dolphen smiled with an understanding look.

"You have not yet been taught. It is like this."

Still holding Chihiro, Dolphen murmured something. A mist then formed around him, which turned into a fog laden with water droplets.

"Whoaaa, that's amazing."

"My attribute is water. I use magic by chanting spells like this to draw out my magic power."

...thump.

Huh? This feeling. It's like that time...

Chihiro's heart grew restless and began to pound. It was the same feeling she had when Romel released his magic before. In that instant, her heart gave a great leap. Dokun.

"Whah??"

As Dolphen and the others watched, golden magic burst forth from Chihiro's entire body like ribbons. The light spread out into a sphere roughly five meters in radius, sparkling and twinkling. Captivated by the fantastical sight, Dolphen was lost for words. He stared up at the light in a daze.

This is golden magic...

Witnessing the legend firsthand, he bathed in the falling light, a pleasant sensation washing over him.

"Is this good? I don't know any spells, I'm surprised I could use it."

"It is more than enough. It is a great amount."

Merda was all smiles. Catching her murmur, Dolphen's eyes flew open. Right, Lady Chihiro had not chanted a spell. He had been so mesmerized by the beautiful and powerful magic that he had forgotten.

Non-verbal casting? No, did she synchronize with my chant? Is such a thing even possible?

Chihiro was completely unaware of Dolphen's gaze as he stared at her with astonishment.

"What should we do?"

"Ah... this is unexpected."

Before them were five of the beeswax containers she had received before. Each one was supported and suspended by three honeybees. They could tie one to the horse and carry it, but five was impossible.

"Is something the matter? Please, take as much as you like.♪"

It was a shame to refuse the exceptionally cheerful Merda, but they had no choice.

Aargh, but it's such a waste.

As Chihiro agonized between reason and desire, Dolphen whispered to her with an amused look.

"Shall I carry them for you?"

"Hah? This much?"

"Yes."

She had forgotten. About the existence of magic. The kind that could seal dozens of logs into a palm-sized orb. Dolphen, the second son of a marquis house, possessed more than enough magic to seal all of this.

"This should last for a while. That's a big help."

"My King. If you would like, I can have it delivered."

"Really?? ...Ah, never mind."

For a moment, Chihiro was about to agree, but she realized it would cause a huge commotion if these giant honeybees appeared in the city or at the castle. It was best to avoid unnecessary trouble.

The Kobito-san had grown a little.

Then she turned a thoughtful gaze toward Merda.

"Also. Can you stop with the 'King' thing? We're not master and servant, we're friends in a give-and-take relationship, right?"

"Then, what should I call you...?"

"Chihiro."

"Lady Chihiro, then. Understood."

"Right, right... huh?"

Chihiro lunged and clung to Merda.

"Call me that again! Call me Chihiro!"

"Is something wrong? Lady Chihiro."

Are you serious? The first person who doesn't mishear my name is a monster!

Merda's voice could only be heard by her. It was probably a telepathic exchange. That's why it got through regardless of pronunciation.

Called by her own name properly for the first time in a long while, the Kobito-san's eyes filled with tears.


"...hiro-sama."

"Hm?"

Unlike the trip there, the ride back was at a gentle, plodding pace. Atop the horse, Dolphen was muttering something. Chihiro couldn't help but ask him to repeat himself, and she blinked at Dolphen's serious and anxious face.

"Chiihiro-sama?"

"Eh?"

"No, that's not it, Chihhiro-sama?"

Haltingly, Dolphen murmured the Kobito-san's name, changing the intonation over and over.

Sensing his intention, Chihiro's eyes widened as far as they could go.

Dolphen was trying to say her name, Chihiro, correctly.

He had probably figured something out from her exchange with Merda earlier. Chihiro couldn't help but purse her lips. If she wasn't careful, she was going to cry.

"...It's Chihiro."

"Chii...hiro-sama."

"Chihiro."

"Chih...ro-sama?"

"That's it!"

"Chi...hiro-sama, Chihiro-sama."

"Uh-huh."

Dolphen's face bloomed into a radiant smile as he repeated the Kobito-san's name over and over, looking so very happy. As she replied to him, Chihiro couldn't stop the corners of her eyes from growing hot.

Really... I'm so blessed with the people around me.

Deeply appreciating her own good fortune, the Kobito-san let a small teardrop fall.

I've gotten so sentimental. It's like a dam broke after that big cry.

Blissful moments pass quickly.

Waiting for the two who returned in high spirits were the King's younger brother and the Knight Captain, wearing smiles of pure, demonic rage.

The two of them had no way of knowing the storm of lightning that was about to befall them.

She might get a little teary-eyed hearing her name pronounced with a nostalgic intonation, but the Kobito-san is doing great today.